Dispensing apparatus



July 18, 1967 MacKAY DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 19, 1965 Q wwwwwwwwwwwww FIC.3

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ATI'ORN EVS United States Patent Office 3,331,337 Patented July 18, 19673,331,337 DISPENSING APPARATUS Robert H. MacKay, Fort Wayne, Ind.,assignor to Lincoln Manufacturing Company, Fort Wayne, Ind., acorporation of Indiana Filed Nov. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 508,755 6 Claims.(Cl. 108-136) This invention relates to a dispensing apparatus and moreparticularly to a dispensing apparatus which is useable for supportingand maintaining a stack of articles such as food trays, dishes and thelike and for maintain ing the uppermost one of the articles at asubstantially constant level.

In the process of dispensing food trays, dishes and other such stacks ofarticles, it is necessary to constantly raise the stack of articlesbecause, as the dishes or trays are removed and the stack lowers, itbecomes inconvenient to reach the articles. It has become the practicein modern cafeteria usage to store the stack of dishes within a wellbelow the level of a serving counter so that the stack is out of sightand the uppermost dish or article extends at a convenient level abovethe counter within easy grasp of a person moving through the cafeterialine. As the plates are removed, the apparatus raises the stack so thatthe uppermost dish is always at the same level. This general arrangementis a convenient one and has many advantages including that of improvedhygiene, better storage facility, improved location of the articles sothat they are less prone to slippage, breakage and contamination and thearrangement makes for a neater more attractive appearance.

The present invention endeavors to maintain all of these advantagesmentioned as well as those set forth in other examples of dispensingapparatus disclosed in copending applications: patent application No.478,337, Improved Container and Transportation Means for DistributingSuch Containers, filed Aug. 9, 1965 and patent application No. 480,299,Improved Cart for Transporting Food Trays and the Like, filed Aug. 17,1965.

It is further intended in the present invention to provide a morecleanable apparatus, and one which is of simpler construction andproducibility and hence more economical to manufacture. It is furtherintended by reducing the number of parts and by making a rigid durableconstruction, to improve the reliability with which a stack of articlesis held and also to. improve the ease of assembly and manufacture of thecomponent parts of the apparatus. It is a further object of the presentinvention to provide a dispensing apparatus which is completely enclosedto shut out sources of contamination.

The entire apparatus can be inserted through a mounting opening and issuspended from the edges of the opening so that it can be readilydropped through a counter which is prepared for the apparatus merely byforming an opening therein and to provide a suspended stack of articleswhich are so supported on a spring loaded platform of the apparatus thatthe uppermost one of the stack is maintained at a convenient level abovethe counter.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel grippingmeans whereby the apparatus, once dropped through an opening in thecounter, will be held reliably in place and is prevented from accidentalmovement, forming a snug fit around the edges of the opening whichprevent freeplay movement.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentthrough a consideration of the following description which proceeds withreference to accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the dispensing apparatus;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged isometric detail View of the brace and bottom ofthe guide rod fitted therein; and,

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detail view of the upper end of the guide rodshown connected to the ring at its upper end.

Referring now to the drawings, the dispensing apparatus designatedgenerally by reference numeral 10 includes three spaced apart guide rods12, 14 and 16 which have received within its confines, a circularsupport platform 18 having spaced notches 20 which slidably engage theconfronting surfaces of the guide rods 12, 14 and 16 and which so guidevertical movement of the platform 18 that it can move only in a truevertical direction, sliding upwardly and downwardly in accordance withthe weight of the stack of articles received thereon.

A helical spring 24 is received over each guide rod and acts against theplatform 18 tending to raise it upwardly, there being a washer 26interposed between the end of each spring and support platform 18. Theloading of the spring is adjusted so that the uppermost one of the stackis properly located, this adjustment being effected by a clip 28 whichis received over the rod and is canted so as to compress or relieve thetension of the spring by a preferred amount. When washer 30 adjacent theclip is straightened, the clip 28 can be raised or lowered by whateveramount is necessary -to adjust the spring tension and when the washer 30is again tilted, because of its engagement with the turned up edge 52 ofclip 28, it causes the clip 28 to bind against the guide rod and holdthe spring in the adjusted position.

The bottom ends 38 of the respective guide rods are received on a bracedesignated generally by reference numeral 40, the brace including threespaced sleeves 42 with sockets 44, 48 and 50. Each socket has a pin 60with a dimple 62 thereon. Struts 5'4, 56 and 58 are dimensioned to slipover the pins 60 and are held in place by the dimples 62. The brace isthus easily assembled and once assembled rigidly holds the guide rods12, 14 and 16 together.

At the other end of the guide rods is a ring 66 with an inner flange 68which passes through slots in the upper ends 70 of the guide rods 12,14, 16 and is secured thereto by mounting screws or the like 72, a plug74 serving to rigidify this connection between the ring 66 and the post12 and also excluding accumulation of any material within the post whichmight be a source of contamination. For example, no dirt, food, liquid,etc. can accumulate within the hollow guide rod. 7

The entire apparatus is suspended by means of a down turned outerperiphery 76 of ring 66. The apparatus is supported on a counter or thelike and is passed through an opening therein for that purpose. Theopening is configured so that the apparatus will pass therethrough andthe edge 78 of the down turned outer periphery 76 engages the top of thecounter and provides the necessary support 'both for the apparatus 10and for the load supported on the platform 18.

In order to guide the movement of dishes or other articles onto and offof the platform 18, there are a number of spaced guide members referredto as horns 80 and which have inner guide surfaces 82 which arecoextensive with the guide surfaces of guide rods 12, 14 and 16.Normally, the uppermost dish or other articles is maintained at a levelso that it is just below the upper ends of each horn 80 so that itcannot be knocked out of place but is still above the level of thecounter to be within convenient grasp.

The horns are secured to the ring 66 by means of screws 86 (FIGURE 3)and in order to prevent loose movement of the apparatus within mountingopening, there is an edge gripper 88 which is held 'by the same fastener72, 86 which also mount the ring 66 onto the guide rod and retain thehorns 80 on the ring 66. The purpose of the edge grippers is to bearagainst the inner periphery in the opening of the counter, preventingthe apparatus from moving about within the opening. This makes a snugfit of the apparatus within the counter opening but does not preventremoving of the apparatus for cleaning by merely gripping the horns andpulling the apparatus out of the opening.

In operation, the articles are stacked on the platform 18 and under theweight of the stack, platform 18 lowers below the level of the counterand the stack is thus stored below the counter level and out of sightexcept for the few which are held above the counter level within theconfines of the horns 80. As the dishes are removed, the relief ofweight from each individual dish, by its removal, causes the spring tobias the platform 18 upwardly and raises both the platform 18 and itssupported load by an amount equal to the height of the dish removal. Theuppermost dish is always, as a consequence, maintained at the same leveland within convenient grasp. In order to adjust for the different kindsof loads, the clips 28 can be raised or lowered to adjust the springforce as required.

To use the present invention, no particular counter size or constructionneed be provided, all that is necessary is to form an opening in thecounter and drop the apparatus through. The size of the opening shouldbe large enough to permit the apparatus to pass therethrough with theedge 78 resting on the top of the counter and the edge grippers 88snugly bearing against the inner periphery of the opening to hold theapparatus against movement while at the same time permitting easierremoval for cleaning purposes.

The apparatus is made of a relatively few number of components which arereadily assembled and once assembled provides sturdy, vibrationless, andstrong dispensing apparatus which can easily support a column of dishesor other ware through a height equaling the length of the rods 12, 14and 16 and will maintain the uppermost dish at the same level, as thedishes are removed.

The material of construction can consist of stainless steel or othercorrosion resistant material. The stainless steel has an attractiveappearance and is of a Weight, strength and formability which makes itadaptable for the present invention. This particular material ofconstruction is not essential to the present invention and othermaterials may be used within the scope of the present invention.

The manner in which the load is supported is: first through the platform18, and then the springs 24 to the lower section of the support frame;then to the brace 40 and then back to the guide rods 12, 14, 16 securedto the ring 66 and then to the down turned outer periphery 76 to theedge 78 which rests on the counter suspending the apparatus.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described inconnection with a single example embodiment, it will be understood thatthis is illustrative of the invention and is by no means restrictivethereof. It is reasonable to be expected that those skilled in this artcan make numerous revisions and adaptations of the invention to suitindividual design requirements and it is intended that such revisionsand adaptations will be included within the scope of the followingclaims as equivalents of the invention.

I claim:

1. A dispensing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of spaced apartelongated guide members having guide surfaces provided along the lengththereof, a support platform disposed within the confines defined by saidguide members and having a portion thereof slidably engageable with saidguide surfaces to guide the vertical upward and downward movement ofsaid platform, spring means surrounding each of said guide members andacting upon said platform to urge it upwardly together with the loadsupported thereon, adjusting means for foreshortening or elongating saidspring means to adjust the lifting force exerted on said platform, abrace interconnecting the projected ends of said guide members andincluding a portion for receiving each of the ends of said guide memberstherein and also having connecting legs which rigidly join said guidemembers together, a mounting ring connecting the upper ends of saidguide members, and providing a weight-supporting flange by which theentire dispensing apparatus is suspended together with its supportedload, a guide extension projecting upwardly from said mounting ring toprovide guidance for articles as they are placed onto a removed frommeans onto said mounting ring and holding it in an operative uprightposition thereon whereby its guide surfaces are disposed in coextensiverelation with the guide surfaces of said guide members.

2. A dispensing apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including means forclamping said mounting ring to the upper end of the spaced guidemembers.

3. A dispensing apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including edgegripping means secured to the end of each guide member and proportionedto engage the inner edge of the opening which receives said dispensingapparatus to provide support therefor at its outer periphery.

4. The dispensing apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including meansfor plugging the open end of said guide members to form a completelyenclosed interior of said guide members.

5. A dispensing apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said guidemembers are in the form of elongated hollow rods having slots at theupper ends thereof through whichis passed said mounting ring to joinsaid ends together and form a rigid structure.

6. A dispensing apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said edgegripping means are connected between the ends of said guide rod meansand said mounting ring to provide an interference fit gripping for saiddispensing apparatus.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 836,303 11/1906 Christensen108l48 1,827,985 10/1931 Hunkele 38-143 2,426,995 9/ 1947 Gibbs 312-712,468,115 4/1949 Saul 220--93 2,802,575 8/1957 Harrison 108106 ROY D.FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner.

1. A DISPENSING APPARATUS, COMPRISING: A PLURALITY OF SPACED APARTELONGATED GUIDE MEMBERS HAVING GUIDE SURFACES PROVIDED ALONG THE LENGTHTHEREOF, A SUPPORT PLATFORM DISPOSED WITHIN THE CONFINES DEFINED BY SAIDGUIDE MEMBERS AND HAVING A PORTION THEREOF SLIDABLY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAIDGUIDE SURFACES TO GUIDE THE VERTICAL UPWARD AND DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OFSAID PLATFORM, SPRING MEANS SURROUNDING EACH OF SAID GUIDE MEMBERS ANDACTING UPON SAID PLATFORM TO URGE IT UPWARDLY TOGETHER WITH THE LOADSUPPORTED THEREON, ADJUSTING MEANS FOR FORESHORTENING OR ELONGATING SAIDSPRING MEANS TO ADJUST THE LIFTING FORCE EXERTED ON SAID PLATFORM, ABRACE INTERCONNECTING THE PROJECTED ENDS OF SAID GUIDE MEMBERS ANDINCLUDING A PORTION FOR RECEIVING EACH OF THE ENDS OF SAID GUIDE MEMBERSTHEREIN AND ALSO HAVING CONNECTING LEGS WHICH RIGIDLY JOIN SAID GUIDEMEMBERS TOGETHER, A MOUNTING RING CONNECTING THE UPPER ENDS OF SAIDGUIDE MEMBERS, AND PROVIDING A WEIGHT-SUPPORTING FLANGE BY WHICH THEENTIRE DISPENSING APPARATUS IS SUSPENDED TOGETHER WITH IT SUPPORTEDLOAD, A GUIDE EXTENSION PROJECTING UPWARDLY FROM SAID MOUNTING RING TOPROVIDE GUIDANCE FOR ARTICLES AS THEY ARE PLACED ONTO A REMOVED FROMMEANS ONTO SAID MOUNTING RING AND HOLDING IT IN AN OPERATIVE UPRIGHTPOSITION THEREON WHEREBY ITS GUIDE SURFACES ARE DISPOSED IN COEXTENSIVERELATION WITH THE GUIDE SURFACES OF SAID GUIDE MEMBERS.